Fresh chapter in dramatic history
GLOUCESTER and Munster have history and the drama between the two sides continued in their latest European Champions Cup clash. The major talking point of the game was, of course, Danny Cipriani being sent off and to the letter of the law it was a red card courtesy of a direct blow to the face with a leading shoulder. The game started well for Gloucester as they had lots of possession, ruffling the Irish province’s feathers. When Munster had the ball they were put under extreme pressure in the tight and with a hard-pressing defensive line, the home crowd was subdued.
This all changed with the Tom Savage yellow card which I believe the referee did get wrong. There was a lot of ambiguity around the exact contact of Savage’s shoulder as he tried to clear out of a ruck. The yellow card took Gloucester’s early momentum and the initiative swung the way of the Munster men – further compounded by the removal of Cipriani.
Once Gloucester’s talisman was asked to leave the field the contest was over.
I have played in games when a sending off can galvanise the team and make the unexpected happen. But this was never the case for Gloucester who looked startled and out of sorts once Cipriani had gone. Outside-halves are pivotal in any side, directing the play, gaining territory, controlling the pace of the game– but Cipriani is so much more than this to the Gloucester side.
He brings belief, an air of arrogance that anything can be achieved and the rest of the players feed off his confidence, pushing them to perform in a hostile environment. No other players can do this in the current squad. He was the missing ingredient and once he was sat in the dugout they looked lost and unable to cope with the Limerick men with 14 players.
It was such a pity as I firmly believe Gloucester were in with a great shout of gaining the victory or at least a point, which is all important in a very competitive group.
Playing with 14 men is very difficult and the bench would have been very important in this situation.
But with a horrific injury list, Gloucester lacked impact especially in the front row.
Josh Hohneck put in a great shift playing out of position on the tight head, always a willing carry and putting himself about.
But the overriding feeling after this defeat is one of pride.
Playing for Gloucester should be and is a privilege not many get to experience.
Every player did Gloucester proud and they deserved at least a point from the game.
The debate over the high tackle and contact with the head rages on and I am firmly behind the concentration on making rugby safer.
But since I can remember, players have asked for consistency from the referees in every area of the game.
If this is going to be achieved the referees must be brave and send players from the field if contact to the head has been made.
Will it ruin the game as a spectacle? Totally. But this will quicken up the attitude and actions of the players with different techniques coming in to play.
I do appreciate contact happens so much quicker in the pro game than in any community game with some contact inevitably leading to scrutiny and lower tackle techniques will have to become more common ensuring the game becomes safer.
One thing that has to stop is a player asking fellow players to be carded or even worse faking injury to put pressure on referees.